I am looking for a unit for a family member but am running into a problem on outputs. Apparently as a result of the 'analog sunset' rule, no units made after December 31, 2010 can contain hd analog video outputs. The TV the blu ray would hook up to is an older unit with only one hdmi port which is already in use. Sure I could use a hdmi switch box but I would rather keep it simple. So...my quesiton is......despite the sunset rule....are there any 2011sets that have component outputs?

I know the new panasonic units do not. There is little info on the new samsungs (one website listed the bd-d6500 with component) . Since the unit is mostly for netflix....I really want a unit like the samsung that has the newer netflix interface.

I am looking for a unit for a family member but am running into a problem on outputs. Apparently as a result of the 'analog sunset' rule, no units made after December 31, 2010 can contain hd analog video outputs. The TV the blu ray would hook up to is an older unit with only one hdmi port which is already in use. Sure I could use a hdmi switch box but I would rather keep it simple. So...my quesiton is......despite the sunset rule....are there any 2011sets that have component outputs?

I know the new panasonic units do not. There is little info on the new samsungs (one website listed the bd-d6500 with component) . Since the unit is mostly for netflix....I really want a unit like the samsung that has the newer netflix interface.

Do I grab 2010 model like the bd-c6500 will I still can?

The OPPO BDP-93 and -95 have pre-sunset component video. I don't know how the Netflix interface rates compared to other players.

I have been very close to purchasing an Oppo BDP-93, due its exceptional playback quality but I have a few reservations now, since doing some more research. One, does it have full Netflix catalog search capability? Still trying to figure this out. Second, I think it DOES fall within the analog sunset rules. Below is some confusing wording straight from the owners manual that I found online. Comments?

When the Primary Output option in the Video Setup section of the Setup menu is set to HDMI 1 or HDMI 2 (see page 52 for details), the component video connection will not output video when playing a Blu-ray Disc with 1080p 24Hz content, or will only output video with a low resolution (480i/576i) when playing a DVD. This is not a malfunction. You must set Primary Output to Analog in order to properly use the component video connection.
When playing a Blu-ray Disc, video resolution over the component output can be up to 1080i. 1080p content will be interlaced into 1080i signal for the component output.
Video up-conversion over the component output is only available for unencrypted discs such as home video and consumer-created contents. Most commercially pressed DVD discs are CSSencrypted and will be limited to 480i/480p resolution. This restriction applies to the component output only. The HDMI output is protected with HDCP and has no such restriction.[/i][/i]

The second and third points are true of every blu-ray player ever made, pre- and post- sunset.

The first point is probably the case with every blu-ray player as well. You usually have some sort of analog priority setting so the player knows if you want HD on component or not.

Like most players, Oppo doesn't have full search Netflix AFAIK. You should check the owner's thread to confirm. Insignia, Samsung and game consoles do. FWIW, I find search on a blu-ray player very tedious to use. I prefer to do it on a PC even though I have players with that capability.

Bottom line is no matter what player you get, old or new, high-end or low-end, it will not upconvert commercial DVDs over component, period.

My concerns for #2, pre/post sunset rules were over whether the oppo bdp-93 restricts component output resolution to 480p. From the manual, what is "limited" appears to be with regard to upconversion; but I suspected that this description was in the wrong bullet point. For Blu-ray over component, it says resolution "can be" up to 1080i. Interesting choice of words. Closely reading the specs on the Oppo website, my suspicions are confirmed about sunset restrictions: "Analog Video: Composite, Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr, 480i/480p, 720p/1080i available for non-restricted content only)." So, for commercial videos, component output is restricted to 480p.

My concerns for #2, pre/post sunset rules were over whether the oppo bdp-93 restricts component output resolution to 480p. From the manual, what is "limited" appears to be with regard to upconversion; but I suspected that this description was in the wrong bullet point. For Blu-ray over component, it says resolution "can be" up to 1080i. Interesting choice of words. Closely reading the specs on the Oppo website, my suspicions are confirmed about sunset restrictions: "Analog Video: Composite, Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr, 480i/480p, 720p/1080i available for non-restricted content only)." So, for commercial videos, component output is restricted to 480p.

That covers the Image Constraint Token. All BR players have been required to honor ICT on BR since day 1. (It's possible some haven't done it).

On discs without ICT (which is most everything until now) the player produces 1080i over component.

Just get a 2010 model so you can watch in 1080i, lot's to choose from:
Sony S570
LG BD570
LG BD590

Are you sure about LG's? I have the BD530 and it won't output 1080i through component. I had to go out and get Sony BD player that did. I am not completely sold on Sony BD player. I'd jump on LG if LG outputs 1080i via component. I just assumed that since BD530 didn't, other LG players wouldn't either.

Are you sure about LG's? I have the BD530 and it won't output 1080i through component. I had to go out and get Sony BD player that did. I am not completely sold on Sony BD player. I'd jump on LG if LG outputs 1080i via component. I just assumed that since BD530 didn't, other LG players wouldn't either.

... yeah, but the fine print in the manual says it won't play DVD or BD protected content at anything greater than 480i over component. It seems LG jumped the gun on the sunset like Apostate said.

I don't understand your comment about upscaling. No player upscales commercial DVDs over component, pre- or post-sunset. If you're seeing something different, please post the model numbers, because that's very rare.

I nearly bought a 2011 player until I heard that they all have reduced quality signals coming from the component output. That's a pretty disingenous way to treat customers to force them to upgrade perfectly good TVs. Our plasma does not have hdmi inputs, but it works fine and I have no immediate plans to upgrade. CNET has a useful chart, but they don't track which 2010 players might also have this "feature" so I can avoid them.

I am considering purchasing a Blu-ray player even though I have an older plasma display: a Pioneer 503CMX which does not have HDMI and does not support HDCP. It has the 5002 card which includes component inputs. The display works great and I love it. I cannot justify purchasing an HDMI display at this point, not until the Pio goes bad. Still I would like to view the better PQ offered by Blu-ray by purchasing a Blu-ray player with component outputs.

On an older thread here at AVS I saw that ICT and DOT will soon be added to BD titles. It said:

ICT will force downgrade to 480p over component.
DOT will disable output over component, vga, or any other non protected output (S-video, composite, non HDCP DVI).

So this put a real damper on my plans.

Have we started to see ICT or DOT on Blu-ray discs yet? Are they definitely coming soon?

Star56 responded:

Quote:

No and No. Nothing to worry about for the foreseeable future.

Then IanD responded:

Quote:

An HDfury should solve any future ICT or DOT issues.

So I wanted to get opinions of folks in this thread.. Star56 seems to think that ICT is still a ways off, but in this thread I see:

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmcclain

On discs without ICT (which is most everything until now) the player produces 1080i over component.

I have heard both, that newer Blu-ray discs do have ICT and that they don't, is there any solid info as to what is happening with this protocol flag?

I am looking for just a basic player, no WiFi, No DNLA, no streaming, no Netflix. Just a good, reliable fast player with component out. I understand the ITC issue will prohibit *some* movies from playing on my component outputs, but I am willing to accept that.

Thanks.

I have been looking through the forum for several hours and can't get a difinitive answer.

I have heard both, that newer Blu-ray discs do have ICT and that they don't, is there any solid info as to what is happening with this protocol flag?

No, there is no solid info. ICT is supposed to marked on disc packaging and no one has seen an example yet. For a while I suspected THE LAST OF MOHICANS had it, but now I'm not sure. Either the disc version changed between the time of my rental and purchase, or new firmware changed my player's behavior, or I screwed up my testing. But other people also reported ICT-like behavior on that disk last year.

Quote:

As a follow up, how will an HDFury help resolve this issue?

It's a device that accepts HDMI as input and produces component video as output, negating the security measures. Meaning any HDMI player can be used with a component display.

No, there is no solid info. ICT is supposed to marked on disc packaging and no one has seen an example yet. For a while I suspected THE LAST OF MOHICANS had it, but now I'm not sure. Either the disc version changed between the time of my rental and purchase, or new firmware changed my player's behavior, or I screwed up my testing. But other people also reported ICT-like behavior on that disk last year.

(HDFury) It's a device that accepts HDMI as input and produces component video as output, negating the security measures. Meaning any HDMI player can be used with a component display.

-Bill

Thanks Bill. Wow would it really be as simple as buying an HDFury? Any downside to the HDFury?

Try to find a player that was manufactured last year, they will have component out such as the Panasonic models 85,300,350.

Thanks. I may be confused as to what plays the "Prime Instant Video" stream as Amazon likes to call it. I have TiVo that can download Amazon VOD(also known as Amazon Instant Video), but cannot stream Prime Instant Video.

I do not see on any Blu-Ray machine ad mention of Amazon Prime Instant Video. Is it safe to assume if the machine provides "Amazon Instant Video" is also provides "Prime Instant Video"? Damn, this gets confusing.

Because TiVo hasn't yet implemented Prime Instant Video, I looking to make sure any BluRay player I buy does. Thanks.

I've been looking for a player that will output at 1080i through component. I've found a few that have component outputs, but I've heard even those only out put 480i when hooked through component. Any idea where I can track one down that still will output at 1080i or 720p through component(preferably new)?

Edit: oops, guess I should have searched the topics more thoroughly first. Thanks for the quick move though.